TheBrownBottle

Most loan deals for decent players come with a hefty fee and often with an obligation to buy - and that's if you even want the player in the first place. There is a reason that Rashford has just gone on loan - besides, Villa sold a reserve CF to KSA for seventy million quid so they have the 'headroom' to pay that waster. I'm struggling to see where Mitchell is to blame for not making signings that we can't currently make. Yes, we bid crazy money for Guehi - which was likely an informed gamble to try to secure a top five position, and would likely have seen a player leave for significant value before 30th June. We don't, unfortunately - the owners have backed the club in the transfer market previously and allowed us to spend the maximum possible. The lack of signings isn't down to a lack of will - we can't sign players at the moment for any significant fee.

Agreed, but that was to avoid punishment through something self-inflicted. I still don’t think it was a coincidence that those with a management contract to manage the club were gone sharpish afterwards.

I’d be astonished if we did. The ownership since day one has shown an intent not only to stay within the rules, but within the spirit of the rules. I’d be surprised if they’re even looking for loopholes. Complete speculation: I suspect that as part of getting past the PL FPPT the owners likely agreed to do exactly the above. ‘Separation’ was obviously bollocks (PIF is a part of the state of KSA).

Completely agree - I was scratching my head when I read it. The replies often made it worse. Can’t believe he’s a lawyer if his communication and written skills are that poor.

Who said 10 years - and what did they say it about?

I’d say there’s more chance that certain parties didn’t completely understand the regs than they bet the house and lost

Gammon for the gammon

Granted, but the entire thread is a badly ordered mess, which is why you’d think that’s what he meant. He explains further:

Tbf this doesn’t feel PSR-driven - more of an ageing player who couldn’t keep his manhood in his trousers issue. Probably should’ve happened last January tbh - his decline was already apparent at that point. He remains the best RB I’ve seen in B&W.

It’s been the case for as long as I can remember - SJP has always had a nervousness to the crowd. It used to be said that at Anfield the Kop sucked the ball into the net. The Gallowgate used to blow it out.

Christ, I wouldn’t

100%. Looked a long way away from a good PL CB or LB when he played for us - and I’m not sure a ‘settling in’ period means as much when you’ve moved from the south of England to the north of England.

‘Fat shaming’ isn’t a pleasant thing, but the lad doesn’t look like a world class athlete at the moment. Despite his football troubles he actually seems like a decent human being - hope he’s alright. I think Villa have taken leave of their senses - though I’ll probably be proved wrong.

I don’t think he’s suggesting that the picture shows the rebuild in fairness

Are you suggesting that a team which has just lost successive home matches to Bournemouth and Fulham aren’t guaranteed the result they need at home to Arsenal?

Yep, he was paid a king’s ransom to sit on our bench for a few months before joining a much bigger club - one of the biggest clubs in the world. A right pisser for him

We needed to sell Minteh and Anderson just to balance the books for last season. The financial situation hasn’t significantly changed this season - with PSR you don’t get to leave everything wrapped up nearly. Sales of players count in that season; purchases of players are spread over the length of their contract. Buying Guehi would’ve meant getting big sales money in before 30th June.

I’d be more concerned if Howe wanted to turn down £20m for him.

Based on the screen grabs Willock posted, I doubt they’ve ever been in the UK let alone SJP.

The rules are the same for all clubs - the issue is still that we spaffed our load over a few windows and it’s eaten up the budget. We didn’t sell when the iron was hot and old left players on the books, running their resale value down. We adopted a model of signing younger, expensive talent rather than experience - a strategy built on a ‘sell for profit’ philosophy - and haven’t sold any of them; while at the same time they take time to ‘peak’. Our revenues haven’t grown at a rate which creates additional financial ‘headroom’. So now we’re stuck. None of this lies at Mitchell’s door - it is the result of decisions made before he entered the building (including by Howe). The club needs to actually sell some of the ‘first wave’ of talents signed by the new ownership while they still attract significant fees - and the support needs to put on big boy pants when some of these players are sold. Every club in the world - including the very richest - has to sell players. I suspect that this summer will see one or two of the Howe-era ‘big’ signings go - CL qualification or not. That would not be a sign of anything other than the way football currently works. The squad left from the Ashley era had a handful of players who could have brought in substantial fees - and Howe improved some of them in the first year or so and they could have commanded even better fees. Wilson, ASM, Joelinton, Willock, Almiron - all of these potentially could have been sold for more than they have gone for, or more than they would fetch now. We didn’t, so here we are. Mitchell needs a full summer window to be judged on ins / outs. The club needs to be a lot more ruthless than it has been - the sale of Kelly to Juve gives me hope. Previously I suspect any bid of that size would have been rejected and he’d have sputtered along as a poor backup, with lots of ‘he needs time’ or ‘he’s good in the dressing room’ patter to justify it. The club have bought well under the new ownership - I’d have confidence that the transfer budget and wages freed up would be recycled well.

20/20 vision based on my last check at the opticians last month My one time up there predated safe standing tbf, which hopefully would have improved the atmosphere But the view is shite

Lvl7 = watching dots on a postcard. Went up there once, never again. You’re removed from the feeling of being at the match and it’s an atmosphere-less anodyne experience.

I don’t think we are tbh

Nice wee boost for next season. Didn’t look anywhere near good enough when he’s played, though obviously opportunities were fairly limited. Good luck to the lad.

The lad isn’t technically strong enough to play midfield, it’s not just that Tonali and Bruno are excellent midfielders so he stands out. He’s never looked great at LCM. He looks good at LW with an attacking LCM behind him. He’s useful for some games in the LCM position, but he cannot be in there next season for me.